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JUNE 24, 2005 at 11:00 PM
Posted by GERI
Source: The Los Angeles Times via The Leaky Cauldron
An interesting article
from The Los Angeles Times questions whether readers are still interested in the Harry Potter books. The article wonders if the original fans, now teenagers and young adults, have outgrown the books and if the publishers, Scholastic, have a challenge in trying to keep the series compelling for the original readers who may now heading off to college and jobs.
Scholastic editor, Arthur Levine comments that the books were never for young children:
It's the kind of depth and sophistication that can be appreciated by an older age group as well as a very clear and compelling plot line that draws in the younger children. It's never been a book for very young children. In the early stages we thought it would be mostly 10- to 14-year-olds. The unusual qualities of the book were that even though there's sophisticated wordplay and humor and political satire that is appreciated by older readers, the younger readers are going for the more direct issues of character.
Barbara Marcus, Executive Vice President of Scholastic commented that while they believe they may have lost some fans, that number has been replenished by their parents and extended family:
I believe we have expanded to parents, aunts and uncles and grandparents. And then we have the new readers. The beauty of the children's market is that our readers come into the market and they grow with us. There are new children every year who are ready for Harry Potter.
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Prefect
Points: 356
aussie_auror says:
Why would age matter to Harry Potter fans. Its still the same characters and even if some fans are older now, they can still relate to what it was like when they were teenagers. And even if they were not so obsessed with it now, they will want to know what happens in the end!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 7:42 PM EST
Squib
Points: 137
li_ke92 says:
I absolutely love the books. However, it is way easier to love books when they come out sooner. It's always more interesting the first time you read it so I like the books more when they are new.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 7:42 PM EST
Auror
Points: 3277
Tenshi says:
Are we still interested in Harry Potter? Uhh...YEAH!!Harry Potter rules! I've been reading these from years ago and I still love them as I did back then, if not more!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 8:06 PM EST
Witch
Points: 686
StormbreakerGirl says:
i will always love the Harry Potter Books no matter what! They are just too good!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 8:15 PM EST
Hogwarts Valedictorian
Points: 2826
Lily*R/Hr says:
Are you kidding me?! I would never get tired of HP! If anything, I'm getting more excited! Who would even ask that, when the fandom just keeps getting bigger and bigger!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 8:23 PM EST
Witch
Points: 557
Amelia Black says:
I'll be close to my junior year in high school when the 7th book comes out. I will still be in love with the Harry Potter books and always will be. I know that even when I go to college I will have all the Harry potter books with me where ever I live. Yes I'm a HP freak and I am proud!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 8:38 PM EST
Padfoot’s Playmate
Points: 5374
Siriusbeau says:
This article is insane!!
Someone obviously didn't do any research whatsoever!! Or they just haven't really read the books themselves!!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 8:41 PM EST
Student
Points: 293
marisolrosemagic says:
I still can believe they ask that. IF someone is into Harry Potter is because they like it and want to know how it goes. I think i do. And like a lot of people said in here I think the same I am addict to HP. Is the only thing i think about all they i just can get over it.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 8:55 PM EST
Student
Points: 206
Deeann Black says:
You know this could all be a publicity stunt by Scholastic, just to make sure that there investment is secure. How childish. Shame on them. They know that the phenomena is greater now than ever before, they're making billions and now they are questioning about the popularity.....GET REAL!! TOTALLY REDUCULOUS!!! "ACCIO IDIOT"
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 9:01 PM EST
Chief Brain Washer
Points: 2881
Chogiiiirl says:
As a 31 year old mother of 2, I can only wonder why someone would even speculate about the fans "outgrowing" HP! This is crazy! The books can reach readers of all ages.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 9:02 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1614
hermy-ninny712 says:
This is the dumbest thing I have ever heard!! Do they not look at the websites that are put there by ADULTS??!! Duh!!! Older people like it, and why wouldn't they? The characters in the book are not growing younger, they are growing older. So yeah, that's a stupid article!!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 9:03 PM EST
Witch
Points: 608
LecHaRry says:
I'm sure i'll still be a fan of Harry Potter no matter what... and honestly, i can't wait to read it up to the end, what's the point of reading it, if you wouldn't finish all the 7 books... and even if the last book is finished, i would probably be rereading it still...
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 9:05 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2102
Dolphin Blu says:
Harry Potter is NOT a little kid's book. The morals are huge. Do you think your average third-grader reads about curses that cause pain, a boy who has someone who murdered his parents out to murder him, and so much death and sad emotions? Of course not. Plus the humor is subtle and it doesn't jump out at you, which is why little kids probably don't even get it. When people say that it's a little kids book, I feel insulted because they are my favorite books and I'm 13 years old!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 9:11 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1989
AncientJoy says:
I agree with many here... the readers have grown with the books and the characters of the books. It is the relationships that the characters have with each other, and more importantly, the relationship that each reader has developed with the characters. It's that relationship that fuels the desire to continue reading the books, transending any age!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 9:17 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 449
Madz981 says:
I managed to avoid anything Harry Potter until last summer. One of my co-workers had the first two movies on DVD and loaned them to me. Hooked! I got my hands on the books and read them until my eyeballs dried out and I had a headache. Having only just gotten hooked, the wait for book 6 has been less painful for me than many who have posted here already. However, my greed for all things Harry Potter is what got me to actually become a member of this site. And I am definitely well out of my teens. If you are a total book junky, as I am, you could NEVER outgrow JK Rowlings books!!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 9:17 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 36
Majinta says:
Yeah I'm still hooked, I'm 16 years old and I learn to read with thoughs book!! And always going to love the Harry Potter Books, and I will proble read these books to my kids some day. Harry Potter ain't ever loseing me!!
*Majinta;)
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 9:38 PM EST
Student
Points: 206
Deeann Black says:
yes.....you see all of us are Hsrry Potter die hards. So be gone with you who question the loyalty of us. No matter if we are 12 or 42 we are still true fans, to heart.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 9:46 PM EST
Witch
Points: 621
GarryDotter89 says:
Now that I'm thinking of this losing fans rubbish, I've been addicted to Harry Potter for 6 years. Where does the Los Angeles fans come off printing such a ridiculous article like that. Six years is quite a while, why would I suddenly stop liking them now, at the end of the series.Why would anyone. That's just stupid. Besides, it's the older fans that can buy the books for themselves instead of having mommy and daddy going with them. That's pretty cool indeed. Teenagers love those books, they can relate to them. All my friends have actually gone to see the movies without me having to drag them there. When I was in middle school,eveyone was reading the Order of the Phoenix. This is just silly.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 10:12 PM EST
Witch
Points: 778
stillDUMBLEDORESgirl says:
Of course we are all still interested in reading Harry Potter. Why do you think that there are so many people on this fansite. We are here because of Harry Potter.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 10:18 PM EST
Mediwitch
Points: 2608
nickyole1 says:
I will never ever be bored of Harry Potter, and I will always enjoy the books, no matter how old I get. I love everything about the Harry Potter universe!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 10:43 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1700
bubblenut21 says:
I'm like addicted to Harry Potter! I think I started reading these books when i was like 8 or 9 I think. Because right now I'm 13. Has it been 5 years?
*bubblenut21*
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 10:47 PM EST
Student
Points: 268
Curdie says:
What an idiotic article. I started reading HP in my forties. Get real.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 10:56 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1369
luv4permboy says:
Kudos to the genius that said that.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 11:00 PM EST
Ravenclaw Ambassador
Points: 3243
Nevar says:
I think some people have lost their rocker completely at the Los Angeles Times. It's quite ridiculous to think that they would lose fans just because we're getting older. I've been reading these books for 5 years, and am still going strong.
I shall never lose my enthusiasm, thank you very much!
N
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 11:01 PM EST
Student
Points: 216
Jassymine says:
O course we're still hooked on Harry! Well, I am anyway..... I guess we've lost a few people but a lot more have joined so it makes up for it.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 11:10 PM EST
Hermione's House-Elf
Points: 4189
hermioneisahottie says:
I started reading when I was 10! I still read them at the age of 17! Of course I am still wild about Harry!
What kind of question is that...
7 years of dedication!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 11:41 PM EST
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